Hot October afternoon spurs Beat-the-Peak™ alert

17 Oct Hot October afternoon spurs Beat-the-Peak™ alert

An unseasonably warm autumn so far has not delivered temperatures normal for this time of year. This is why Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC) expects a peak of record for the month to occur tomorrow, Oct. 18, when afternoon highs are forecasted in the 88- to 90-degree range.

To offset this high demand and corresponding increase in the cost of wholesale electricity from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), DREMC will activate Beat the Peak™ Tuesday between 3-5 p.m.

Thousands of emails and text messages will go out to Beat the Peak™ partners, asking them to dial back their use of electricity during the peak hours. The peak is a period when the cost of wholesale power jumps from cents per kilowatt-hour to $9.50.

DREMC also will broadcast peak alerts on local radio stations to warn the general membership of the impending peak.

“October is a shoulder month when the peak can be driven by heat or cold,” says Steve Oden, DREMC’s director of member services. “In this case, we believe our highest electricity demand for the month will be due to air conditioning load.”

Oden urges all DREMC members to reduce their use of electricity tomorrow during the peak hours.

Turning up thermostats three degrees makes the greatest difference in household energy use during hot-weather peak periods, but DREMC members can also make an impact in other ways:

Give the electric water heater a break by not showering, running the dishwasher or using the washing machine

Don’t run the clothes dryer until the peak period has passed

Close shades and curtains to block sunlight (UV radiation)

If you have a swimming pool, turn off the water circulation pump

Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms

Keep the oven turned off; use the microwave or outdoor grill for food preparation

Notice

DREMC offices are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and closed on holidays. The Lynchburg, Chapel Hill and Sewanee offices are closed from 12pm-1pm for lunch. DREMC does provide a 24 hour a day, 365 days per year dispatch center to assist members outside of normal operating hours.